New Westminster Schools is committed to supporting the academic and personal success of Indigenous students. The district’s second Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement reflects a shared commitment among Indigenous communities, schools and the Ministry of Education and Child Care to:
- Honour the diverse histories, cultures and contributions of Indigenous Peoples.
- Increase awareness of both historical and current issues affecting Indigenous communities.
- Integrate Indigenous content and resources into classroom learning.
- Support the academic, social, and emotional success of Indigenous learners.
Key goals include building cultural pride, improving literacy outcomes, and supporting smooth transitions at all stages of a student’s school journey from early learning through to graduation and beyond.
A dedicated team provides cultural, academic and personal support to students across the district. At NWSS, students can connect with:
- District cultural facilitator who supports Indigenous students at the secondary level and helps deliver cultural programming across all grades from kindergarten to Grade 12.
- District Indigenous support workers who provide academic, social, and cultural support to students throughout the district. They also liaise between schools and families and help develop and implement Indigenous teachings in classrooms.
- Indigenous youth workers who offers one-on-one support to Indigenous students. Support may include tutoring, homework clubs, cultural field trips, after-school programs and post-secondary planning.